I'll See You in My Dreams 2015

The story unfolds with Carol (Blythe Danner) waking up in a bed that once held two people but now only accommodates her and her aging dog. As loneliness creeps in, she soon resorts to sleeping outside by the pool after spotting a rat in her house. The following morning, Lloyd, the pool maintenance guy (Martin Starr), finds her and sparks a new friendship that leads them to an unexpected night of Karaoke—a delightful venture into the unknown for Carol.

As time goes by, Carol finds herself back in her familiar routine of playing cards with her friends, who are other retired women living in a nearby community. During this period, she encounters Bill (Sam Elliott), a widower who brings romance back into her life, nudging her towards embracing new experiences. Meanwhile, Carol’s daughter visits, discovers her mother’s newfound zest for life, and is thrilled to see her mother slowly come back to herself.

However, just when things seem to be turning around for Carol, Bill passes away, leaving her heartbroken before they could truly reignite their relationship. In this difficult moment, Lloyd re-enters Carol’s life, helping her tackle the rat problem and indirectly teaching her to look forward and accept change. The narrative brilliantly explores that if Carol were a teenager, this journey would be a ‘coming-of-age’ story; yet, as a widow in her 60s, it’s profoundly a tale about ‘coming to terms with life.’ Ultimately, Carol takes a meaningful step towards a fresh start by adopting a rescue dog, symbolizing her readiness to embrace the next chapter of her life.